The Tepid Trilateral

The Tepid Trilateral

Prior to the Partido Popular gaining power in Spain in late 2011, the appropriate forum for discussing issues such as the current 'fishing' dispute was the Trilateral forum. This forum, which consisted of the Governments of Spain, the United Kingdom and Gibraltar was seen as a diplomatic victory for all sides. From the Gibraltar perspective, we gained the ability to express our point of view and exercise our own veto to any arrangements made between the UK and Spain without our consent. So what happened?

Since the Partido Popular came into power, the likes of Spain’s Foreign Minister Margallo and their Prime Minister Rajoy have explained how the Trilateral forum was a big mistake by the previous PSOE Government, which gave too much say to Gibraltar. The PP argue that the process of the decolonisation of Gibraltar should have always been between the UK and Spain alone, with Gibraltar having no say. Interestingly enough, the very argument that Spain uses in its aim of 'colonising' Gibraltar (I use the term colonising as in my opinion that is the correct term to use to describe Spain’s desires with Gibraltar), one of 'Territorial Integrity trumps Self-Determination', is exactly the same which Morocco uses in its desire to regain the enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla. Spain’s hypocritical response to Morocco’s claims are an exact mirror to the arguments put forward by the United Kingdom in defence of Gibraltar, namely that the people of the territories in question can determine their own future.

How is it possible that in the modern age, a nation can feasibly put forward such a Jekyll and Hyde persona, wielding two different arguments for the same situation (the 'anachronistic' situation of colonies as Spain so happily describes it) especially when Ceuta is only 25Km away from Gibraltar? Is it not laughable that such a contradiction can be maintained? Are the citizens of Spain really this blind that they cannot see through the smoke and mirrors?

More recently Spain has argued for four-party talks – to include the same members as the trilateral forum, with the addition of Spanish Regional Government representatives (Andalucian Government). Spain does this with full knowledge that the UK will not accept bilateral talks without Gibraltar holding the ultimate veto, whilst Gibraltar and the UK will be unlikely to accept four-party talks. In other words, Spain is suggesting talks which will never get off the ground, and is designed to drown out the voice of the people of Gibraltar in any discussions (and reduce the standing of the Gibraltar Government to that of a Mayorship). Spain is essentially stalling.

May I humbly make the following recommendation, which a democratic Spain will undoubtedly take on board considering its stated aim of ending anachronistic colonial situations:

1) The immediate creation of a Seven party forum to discuss 'colonial' situations in the Strait of Gibraltar, to include government representatives of the United Kingdom, Spain, Morocco, Gibraltar, Ceuta and Melilla.

I personally dont think the Spanish Government will be naïve enough to accept these talks, considering how quickly it will highlight the duplicity of its stance towards Gibraltar and its stance on its own colonies. However I do believe there is merit in pursuing this course of action.

Why? Well, by merely suggesting this idea within the corridors of power, it will be interesting to see how quickly the Spanish Government returns to the trilateral forum; once the heat is placed on their own territories, a return to the trilateral forum would not seem as bad as Seven party talks

Gareth Gingell

Chairperson for Defenders of GIbraltar.